REV. I. F. NUZUM DIES AT AGE 79
Retired Baraboo Pastor Oldest Member of M. E. Conference
The Rev. I. F. Nuzum, 79, Baraboo, oldest minister in the West Wisconsin conference of the Methodist church, died at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the home of his sister, Mrs. Jennie Snodgrass, 15 Jackman street. The Rev. Mr. Nuzum, who retired from the ministry 16 years ago, came to Janesville in November. He was the eldest son of Rev. George and Mary Nuzum, Viroqua. During his pastorate he had charges at Monroe, Darlington, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Mauston, Prairie du Chien, Boscobel, Viola, and Mount Sterling. Surviving him are eight brothers and sisters: John E. Nuzum, Viroqua; the Rev. W. O. Nuzum, Plymouth, N. H., N. E. Nuzum and R. W. Nuzum, attorneys at Spokane, Wash.; Dr. T. W. Nuzum, Mrs. David H. Hunter, Mrs. Mary Foulkes and Mrs. Jennie Snodgrass, all of Janesville. He also leaves his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Martha Nuzum, three grandchildren, Mrs. John Niles, Margaret and Martha Nuzum, all of Baraboo. His wife and son preceded him in death. The funeral will be held at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday in the Baraboo Methodist church. The body was taken to Baraboo Saturday morning. Published in The Janesville Daily Gazette, Saturday, 23 February 1935, page 5.

Rev. Nuzum Dies Today at Janesville
Rev. I. F. Nuzum, retired minister of the First Methodist Church and resident of this city for the past 20 years, died this morning about 8:30 o'clock in Janesville at the home of his sister, Mrs. Jennie Snodgrass. The Baraboo man had been ailing for some time, but had become critically ill while visiting his sister's home in Janesville, having gone to that city several weeks ago. Two of his sisters, Mrs. Jennie Snodgrass and Mrs. N. Faulkes, of Janesville and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Martha Nuzum, of Baraboo, had assisted in caring for him. Among Mr. Nuzum's pastorates were those at LaCrosse, Praire du Chien and Viroqua. He came to Baraboo to reside when he retired from the ministry about twenty years ago. Surviving the deceased are three sisters and five brothers, Mrs. Jennie Snodgrass, Mrs. N. Faulkes, Thomas Nuzum and Mrs. Jessie Hunter, of Janesville, John Nuzum of Viroqua, two brothers who reside in Spokane, and one who is located in the east: three grandchildren and one great grandchild. His wife, a son, Dr. Walter Nuzum, and one sister preceded him in death. Funeral arrangements are in charge of the Scheible and Dyrud undertaking parlors. Funeral services are to be held Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock at the First Methodist church. More complete funeral arrangements will be announced Monday. Published in The Baraboo News-Reporter, Sat. 23 Feb. 1935, page 1.

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Funeral services for the Rev. I. F. Nuzum are to be held Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock at the First Methodist church. Friends wishing to view the remains may call at the church from ten o'clock in the morning until one-thirty in the afternoon. The casket will not be opened following the last rites. Interment is to be in the Baraboo cemetery. Published in The Baraboo News-Reporter, Mon. 25 Feb. 1935, page 4.

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Memories of his sister, Mary Nuzum Foulkes
"Isaac was the first child born to the George Nuzums contracted the bloody flux that visited the country the year he was born. A migration of the Groves families and other neighbors had been planning to go to Wisconsin. Whether they should take sick Isaac on such a journey was decided for them by their doctor who said, "He cannot live here and he may die on the way, but he may improve with the change." His mother's heart was often filled with terror as she saw little graves by the way as they journeyed, but Isaac improved."

"They traveled in a covered wagon and rested on Sunday. The trip was 500 miles. In the company were the families of Josh Selby, the Snells, and other Groves families. Their last camp was at Liberty Pole in what is now Vernon County in western Wisconsin. From there they could see Monument Rock standing like an immense Native American watching their approach."

Brother Frank was a boy of most retiring disposition, and at times people would ask mother if he was really her boy. When he reached the age of maturity he felt called to the ministry but so dreaded the social contact that he was tempted to commit suicide. He only refrained from doing so by the thought of the anguish it would be to father and mother.

As a minister he was successful everywhere and had a wealth of sympathy and love for his people. No man ever went before him or followed him in his pastorates that could do the work that he and his gifted wife were able to do. He served three five-year pastorates when five years was the limit of time a pastor could remain in one pastorate. Ann was a woman of rare ability and was a tower of strength in his work.

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Isaac was born in Perry Co., Ohio, probably at Monroe Township. A frail baby, he was brought by covered wagon by his parents, and a number of his mother's Groves relatives, to southwestern Wisconsin shortly after he was born. He accompanied his family to Viroqua in 1869 where he grew to manhood [1870 U.S. Census, Viroqua, Vernon Co., Wisconsin; Vernon Co. Censor, January 10, 1912, p. 1].

Isaac married Lydia Ann McCULLOUGH at Prairie de Chien, Wisconsin on October 15, 1877 [Wisconsin State Marriage Index, pre-1907].

He was a charter member of the Methodist West Wisconsin Conference and held pastorates in eight different churches (including Clinton and Sterling in Vernon Co.) [History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, 1884].

He and Lydia were enumerated at La Crosse in the 1900 US Census and at Eau Claire in the 1905 Wisconsin State Census. They were enumerated at Viroqua in the 1910 US Census.

Isaac retired in 1917 due to ill health and moved to Baraboo, Wisconsin. A widower, he died while staying with his sister Jennie SNODGRASS, at her home at Janesville [His Obituary; 1920 U.S. Census, Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wisconsin].

Biography by Tom Brocher, last updated on 9 January 2023.